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This Client Briefing looks at pay ratios for 2016. The ratios were calculated using: (1) compensation data for the CEO as reported in 2017 proxy statements, and (2) the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) information on weekly earnings for the 4th quarter of 2016, annualized ($43,992).
The Client Briefing reports median 2016 CEO annual total compensation by index and industry, allowing companies to use their own estimates of median employee total compensation for their industry to calculate a more relevant estimated ratio. Note: The CEO Pay Ratios contained in this Client Briefing were calculated using the BLS median annual compensation for a U.S. worker of $43,992 for 2016. As a result, the ratios may not reflect the ratios that will be disclosed in 2018 proxy statements for (1) companies with median employee annual total compensation significantly above or below the BLS amount, and (2) companies with a large global employee workforce such that their median employee is not based in the U.S. Download Client Briefing (PDF) On December 14, 2017, ISS issued several important updated documents concerning its policies and methodologies for the upcoming 2018 Proxy Season:
In early January 2018, ISS released an interview with its Head of U.S. Compensation Research, David Kokell, that provided insight into how ISS will assess potential changes in compensation practices as a result of the enactment of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Exequity's Client Alert reviews the changes in ISS policy and methodology for the 2018 Proxy Season that are highlighted in these materials. Download Client Alert (PDF) A New Tax Day Dawns in the U.S. after President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law on December 22, 2017. This Client Alert details the provisions in the Tax Act that impact executive compensation directly. Most notably, the Tax Act makes some significant changes to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
On November 21, 2017, ISS released a set of preliminary U.S. Compensation FAQs that make some significant changes to its Quantitative Pay-for-Performance (P4P) tests and its Equity Plan Scorecard (EPSC) Policy. While several of the proposed changes are significant, they were not treated as "policy changes" and released with ISS's policy updates for 2018.
These preliminary FAQs represent only the most common questions ISS received, and the final, comprehensive FAQs could alter these FAQs and contain changes to other ISS U.S. Compensation policies. Exequity's Client Alert examines these preliminary FAQs and the changes they make to the Quantitative P4P tests and EPSC Policy. Download Client Alert (PDF) On November 16, 2017, ISS released its updated policies for 2018. The updated policies apply to shareholder meetings on and after February 1, 2018. Exequity's Client Alert examines the United States policy updates focused on compensation matters.
Download Client Alert (PDF) GOP Tax Proposal Eviscerates Current Executive Compensation Designs and Practices—Perhaps?11/10/2017
On November 2, 2017, the House Ways and Means Committee released the GOP's Tax Proposal, also known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the potential harbinger of death for many current executive compensation programs. The Tax Proposal has already been amended by the Chairman of the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee, and is likely to undergo further changes as it winds its way through Congress. Also, the Senate released a summary of its plan late on November 9 and reconciliation between the House and Senate bills will need to occur. President Trump wants this signed into law by Christmas, so there is a lot to be done in a very short period of time. Thus, there could be many changes between now and then, including the possibility of no bill.
This Client Alert details the "worst-case scenario" key provisions that impact executive compensation directly and also discusses the immediate issues companies need to think through so they at least have some chance to take action before December 31, 2017 if they want to try and address some of the potential issues that this Tax Proposal would raise if it makes it into law in its current form before the end of the year. Download Client Alert (PDF) Exequity's Ben Burney presented the findings of Exequity's recent study of relative TSR programs to the Chicago Chapter of The National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. The research was originally published by Exequity in a October 2017 Client Briefing.
Download Slides from Presentation to NASPP Chicago Chapter (PDF) In this Client Briefing, Exequity explores the usage of relative total shareholder return (RTSR) within long-term incentive plans across S&P 500 companies using data from 2017 filings. We examine overall prevalence of RTSR, differences in usage between industry sectors, and key design elements of these plans.
Download Client Briefing (PDF) On September 21, 2017, the SEC released several items providing additional guidance regarding CEO Pay Ratio. The new guidance took the form of an SEC Release, guidance from the Division of Corporation Finance, and new, modified and withdrawn Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations. The Exequity Client Alert reviews all of this new guidance.
Download Client Alert [PDF] On May 10, 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) with respect to Topic 718, Stock Compensation. The purpose of this ASU is to provide clarity and reduce cost, complexity and diversity in practice.
Exequity's Client Alert on this ASU provides a summary of the clarification provided by FASB. Download Client Alert (PDF) This Client Alert provides information about the peer group submission windows of ISS and Equilar (for Glass Lewis) for shareholder meetings during the first half of 2017. Links to each firm's website for submitting peer group changes for setting 2016 compensation that will be disclosed in a company's next proxy statement are provided. ISS's peer group submission window runs through 8 p.m. Eastern on December 9, 2016 and Equilar's window runs through December 31, 2016.
Download Client Alert (PDF) Exequity's Ed Hauder will participate in Practising Law Institute's Annual Disclosure Documents 2016 seminar on December 12-13, 2016 in New York City. The seminar offers both in-person and webcast options for attending. The seminar will cover current developments and tips for companies annual disclosure filings. For more information or to register, please visit PLI's seminar website at:
http://www.pli.edu/Content/Seminar/Annual_Disclosure_Documents_2016/_/N-4kZ1z11hyy?ID=259907&t=ZKB6_FCLTY Exequity's Ben Burney presented the findings of Exequity's recent study of relative TSR programs to the Chicago Chapter of The National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. The research was originally published by Exequity in a September 2016 Client Briefing.
Download Slides from Presentation to NASPP Chicago Chapter (PDF) In this Client Briefing, Exequity explores the usage of relative total shareholder return (RTSR) within long-term incentive plans across S&P 500 companies using data from 2016 filings. We examine overall prevalence of RTSR, differences in usage between industry sectors, and key design elements of these plans.
Download Client Briefing (PDF) On June 22, 2016, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued new proposed regulations under Section 409A as well as withdrew certain portions of previously issued proposed regulations under Section 409A. This Client Alert summarizes the key proposed changes and clarifications under these new proposed regulations.
Download Client Alert (PDF) On April 21, 2016, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) issued new proposed rules governing incentive compensation arrangements for financial institutions.1 The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued its version of these proposed rules on May 6, 2016 (Proposed Rule).2 The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury (OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) are all expected to issue similar rules shortly. These proposed rules are designed to implement Section 956 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). These proposed rules are revisions of the proposed rules released by all of the above agencies in 2011. This Client Alert looks at the new proposed rules.
Download Client Alert (PDF) This Client Alert examines the accounting changes wrought by Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09 to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, including a change to the share withholding and forfeiture requirements.
Download Client Alert (PDF) This Client Alert looks at the policy updates from Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Class, Lewis & Co., LLC that involve compensation and directors. The Appendix of this Alert also includes the ISS 2016 Burn Rate Benchmarks.
Download Client Alert (PDF) Exequity's Bob Reilley will join Dan Marcec of Equilar and Carrie Kovac of E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services to discuss trends in equity grants as part of the Equilar webinar series on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm.
Equilar Webinar Link Exequity's Ben Burney presented the findings of Exequity's recent study of relative total shareholder return programs to the Chicago chapter of The National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. The research was originally published by Exequity in a Client Briefing.
Download Slides from Presentation to NASPP Chicago Chapter (PDF) |
